Atomizing nozzle



Sept. 30, 1952 KURATA 2,612,408

ATOMIZING NOZZLE Filed Aug. 12. 1948 FIGQI 6.3

FIG.5

INVENTOR.

- FRED KURATA Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEATOMIZING NOZZLE Fred Kurata, Lawrence, Kans., assignor to Kask'TechnicalCorporation, Jackson Heights, N.-Y., incorporation of. New YorkApplication August 12, 1948, Serial No. 43,939

Claims. 1

The, present invention relates to nozzles for atomizing liquids.Particularly in one aspect,this invention relates; to such a nozzleinwhich a vibrating. member is, employed to. bring about the desireddegree of atomization. This application isv a continuationr-in-part of.my prior. and copending; application Serial No. 533,720, filed May 2,19.4.4, andnow abandoned;

In. the. commercial. atomizing nozzles on. the market todayin..whichpressure alone is employed as theatomizing force. ascontrasted withthoseinwhichagas under pressure. is used as the propelling anddisruptive. agency the atomization of the liquid is. produced bysubjecting it to a whirling action beioreejectinguit from an orifice ofthedesired shapeand size..The. whirling motion is impartedto.the.liquid;by passing it under pressure.thrcugha-chamher of specialconstruction. All of thenozzles. of this type are inherently inefiicientbecause of .the pressure. drop caused by the absorption of energyasfluid friction when. the liquid traverses the nozzle chamber.

It is anobject otthe present invention to produce'. an atomizing. nozzleof a design radically different iromthat-discussed above and in whichenergy. losses due to fluid friction are in a large part eliminated. v

It1isa further object of. this invention to produce an atomizing. nozzlein which a much lower fluid pressuretislrequired' to obtaina certaindegree of atomization than is the case with the presently-knowntypes-aof.atomizingnozzles.

It isstillanother object-of the invention to provide anatomizi-ng nozzleof relatively simple and compact-construction which brings about amore-efficie-nt atomization of liquids than those presently in user.

It. is a still further object of the present invention to'produceanatomizing nozzle.- in which the degree of atomization; of the liquid canbe readily; varied. within wide limits.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a vibrating atomizingnozzle-in which the vibrating, mechanism; does not. interfere with: thedistributiorr of the; spray produced thereby.

Still another object is to provide a vibrating nozzle-in whichthevibrating'mechanism is protected from the environment in which,theznozzle is-used;

Variousother objects and" advantagesoi the present-invention will becomeapparent from the accompanying description and d-isclosure.

Figure-l ofthe drawings is a front-elevational. View, partly incross-section, 'of'the vibrating Figure 5 of the drawin'gs is'la frontelevational'.

view, partly in cross-section, of another modification of the vibratingnozzle employing a conicalhelical spring and made of separately'assemled chamber and two end sections, one end section containing an orificeand the other endsection containing a guide for a vibrating valvemember.

Figure (i-ofthe drawin'gs is' a front elevational view, partly incross-section, of still another modification of different constructionbu-t'corresponding in. the vibrating mechanism substantially tothat-illustrated in Figure 5.

Referringto th'e-modifieation-shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings;numeral l l=- designates a body portion of anydesired shape,preferablycylindrical, having achamber: l2 therein and aconically-shapecl' or beveled-end-section l3. A discharge orifice oraperture l4 passes-through theconically-shapedend section I 3 in opencommunication with internal chamber l-2.-' Chamberand aperture M arepreferably cylindrical andare axially aligned. In its preferredformchamber l2- narrows by'means Ora-conical section 16 to aperture [4.

The other end-of body portion H opposite discharge I orifice or apertureI4- is externally threaded as indicated by numeral lT-so as to becapable of connection with a'conduit (not shown) for supplying liquidunderpressure; Other' con ventional methods"known-to-thoseskilled in theartmay be used to connect: chamber l2 to a source of supplyof liquidunder pressure, such-as welding or bolting with flanges, withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention. Chamber I2 is slotted orgrooved; in a longitudinal direc tion as shown by numeral l8; to receiveaspring supporting'member 2'6;

7 Figure 2 being a viewtaken along line' 2-'-2 in thedirection shownclearly illustrates the-shape of the cross-section'of body portion H andchamber l-2L and the insertion ofil supporting member 26.v in grooves 18of chamber 12.- The ends'oi-sup- 3 porting member 26 freely fit intoslots or grooves I8 so that supporting member 26 can move longitudinallywithin chamber I2 but cannot rotate.

A valve member I9 comprising a stem 2|! and a valve head 2| is locatedcentrally within chamv ber I2 with its valve head 2| seated on the outeredge of discharge orifice I4. That portion of the valve head 2| whichseats in orifice I4 is, preferably conical as indicated by numeral 22.Valve head 2| may be spherically-shaped without departing from the scopeof the invention. An important feature of the nozzle is the seating ofthe conically-shaped valve head 2I on the outer edge of orifice I4 tomake a line. contact or a knife edge contact as contrasted to surfacecontact which would result if the outer edge of orifice I4 had conicallyshaped sides parallel to sides 22 of valve head 2|. Other importantfeatures of orifice I4 and valve head 2| will be discussed more fullyhereinafter.

Preferably the included or apex angle formed by the conically-shapedportion 22 of valve head 2| is between about 60 and about 150 degrees,the actual angle best suited for any particular valve head will dependon such factors as the size of the orifice and the pressure of theliquid being atomized. Included. angles between about 90 and about 120degrees for valve head 2| have shown good results for a wide range ofliquid pressures.

The other end of valve member I9 opposite the valve head 2| is threadedas shown by numeral 24. Threaded end 24 of valve member I9 is screwedinto a threaded hole 21 (Figure 2) of supporting member 25. Valve head2| is notched or grooved at 23 to receive a screw driver.

A cylindrical-helical spring 28 is positioned within chamber I2surrounding valve stem 20 with one end thereof pressing against thedownstreamend of chamber I2 and with the other end pressing againstsupporting member 28 connected to the threaded end 2 4 of valve memberI9. The pressure of spring 28 against the body portion II and againstsupporting member 26 urges the valve head 2| of valve member I9 towardsthe outer edge of orifice I 4 and seats the valve head 2| on the edge ofthe circular mouth of orifice I4. Various sizes and types ofconventional springs may be used for this purpose, as hereinafterdescribed, without departing from the scope of this invention. The forcewith which spring 28 urges valve head 2| against the outer edge oforifice I4 can be adjusted by inserting a screw driver in groove 23 ofvalve head 2| and turning valve member I9. Turning valve member I9changes the position of supporting member 26 so as to increase ordecrease the pressure of spring 28 thereon depending on the directionturned. Suflicient clearance between spring, 28 and the walls of chamberI2 is allowed to prevent binding or cramping when the spring iscompressed.

Supporting member 26 serves also as a guide so that valve member I9 willbe axially aligned at all times with orifice I4 and will not vibratetransversely.

The nozzle of Figure 1 of the drawings is of relatively simpleconstruction and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. Bodyportion II can be made by drilling chamber I2 and orifice I4 from barstock of steel, alloy, cast iron, brass or bronze. Body portion I Iincluding chamber I2 may also be cast or molded from suitable metal oralloy. Valve stem I9, supporting member 26 and spring 28 are made in the4. conventional manner known to those skilled in the art.

In operating the nozzle of Figure 1, the force exerted by spring 28 isadjusted in the manner previously discussed to correspond to thatappropriate for causing vibration of valve member I9 at the pressure ofliquid available. Thereafter, liquid under pressure is supplied tochamber I2, which is connected to a supply conduit (not shown) by meansof threaded portion If. Assuming the adjustment of the spring 28 iscorrect, valve stem I9 will vibrate in a longitudinal direction alongthe axis of orifice I4. Liquid issues from orifice I I of the nozzle asa fine spray of uniform particle size as the result of the vibratingaction of conically-shaped valve head 2| on the edge of the mouth ofcylindrical orifice I4. The size of the orifice I4, the strength ofspring 28, and the mass of spring 28 and valve member I9 are soco-related to one another and to the liquid pressure that valve memberI9 (and valve head 2|) is maintained in forced vibration as part of aresonant system.

In general the greater the mass of the vibrating parts, the lower willbe the frequency of vibration; and the greater the spring force thehigher will be the frequency of vibration. The frequency of vibrationwill also tend to increase with an increase of pressure of the liquid tobe atomized, but this factor is not as important as the mass of thespring and the parts associated therewith and the spring tension. Thusit is seen that by varying and balancing the co-acting forces, theoperable limits of the device may be widely changed and any desireddegree of atomization of the liquid can be procured. For most'operations, the frequency of vibration will be maintained within theaudio range; for example, frequencies of 60 to several thousand cyclesper second may be cited.

In operation, the potential energy available from the pressure of theliquid is consumed by the friction of the liquid passing through thenozzle and by the energy necessary to cause vibration of the valvemember. For maximum efiiciency, therefore, it is desirable to reduce theenergy losses'by friction to a minimum. The greater the proportion ofthe total energy available for use in vibrating the valve member, thehigher the frequency of vibration that can be obtained which results inthe maximum dispersion of the liquid as a spray or mist for agiven'pressure. In fact, if energy losses Y by friction are too greatthe valve member will not vibrate. Accordingly, the dimensions and shapeof such elements as orifice I4, the downstream end I6 of chamber I2, andthe valve stem 20 of valve member I 8 are important and the followingdimensions serve as a guide inthe construction of a nozzle havingminimum frictional losses. The downstream end I6 of chamber I2 ispreferably in the form of a to degree cone to minimize the turbulence ofthe liquid as it passes from chamber I2 to discharge orifice I 4. Thelongitudinal length of aperture or orifice I4 is preferably as short asstructural limitations will permit, for example, from about 1% to aboutA of an inch in length, although shorter or longer dimensions may beused, as desired. The diameter of orifice I4 should not be so small asto cause excessive energy losses by the passage of liquid through theannular passageway formed by the walls of the aperture I4 and valve stem20. Otherwise, the diameter of aperture I I will be determined by suchfactors as pressure of the liquid; capacity-ofthenozzle, etc.-, andgenerally" scope ofthis-invention. The clearance'between.

valvestem 20 and the walls of aperture -|4 shou ld also besufficient-to. minimize frictional losses of the liquid passing throughthe annular space formed therebetween; preferably a clearanceof atileast0.001 of an inch is employed for: small orificesand-where possible withlarger orifices at least-1 of i an inch, but not somuch clearance asmightcause transverse vibration. of' the valve. stem. A clearance of0.005. of i an inch. has: been found suflicientfor producing a: sprayhaving'par: ticle sizes less than microns.

The diameter of: valvehead 2| should be; only slightly. larger: than thediameter of I themouth OflOIiflCB. 4 in orderztoiassure uniform andmini.- mum'particlesize. It'valve: head, 2|. is toolargeasxcomparedtoorifice. l4, surface area'22 pro.- jects'overtheedgeoforifice l4 to such an extent that the liquid; particles; producedby the vibrating action cling to surface 22 resulting in agglomerationof the fine particles. Preferably therefore, the diameter of valve head2| isnot more-than about 3 5, of an inchlargerthan the diameterof themouth of orifice [4. For example; anorificerf v inch in diameter shouldbe used with. a: valve member having avalve head not greater than inchin diameter.

Thespray oi the nozzle of Figure l oftthedrawing will .forma-cone havingan included or apex angle slightly smaller than the apex angle ofconical portion 22-of valve head 2|. The particle size of the spray is afunction of the tension of spring 28-within a relative narrow range;thus, for a given pressure the particle size of the spray may be. variedby adjusting the tension ofspring 28- byvalve head 2| with a screwdriver in the appropriate directionuto increase or decrease the tensionof the: spring as desired. A hexagonal head may replace groove 23 andvalve. head 2| isthen turned. by awrench or. like means.

Although the variousstructural materials. used to makethe nozzles. formno part of this. invention, it should be noted that orifice l4 .andvalvemember l9 including valve head 2| may bemade of special alloys, orplated or clad with special metals orv alloys tov prevent wear anderosion- A wear and. erosion resistant sleeve of, a suitable wearresistant material, such as stainless steel, Monel metal, Stellite, .ora jewel such as sapphire, may be inserted and fixedin orifice [4, ifdesired. It is desirable to make the valve member of softer materialthan the orifice.

Theatomizing nozzle of Figure 1. maybe used on liquids at variouspressures. Best results are obtained at pressures above. about 100pounds per square inch gage and up to pressures as high as .the tensionof the spring correlated with orifice diameter will permit. Pressuresas. high as 6000 pounds per square inch gage have been used with thevibrating type nozzle of thisinvention with excellent resultscharacterized by efliciencies as high as 80 per cent and higher.Pressures as low as or pounds per square inch gage produce a fine sprayof various liquids, such as water and-oil, withthe nozzles of'thisinvention.

Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates another modification'of the nozzleof this invention using a single-leaf spring and since its constructionand operation is similar'in some of its aspects to that nozzle of Figure1 only a-brief description of it will be made. Referring specificallyto-the 6v nozzle oi "Fig1.11-'e- 3, numeral 3| designates thebod-yportion of anydesired cross-sectional shape, preferablycylindrical'butothershapes, such as polygonal, may be'used withoutdeparting from thescope-of this invention.- Body portion 3| contains achamber -32 therein and a discharge orifice 34-passing-through-endsection 33 in open communication with chamber 32. End section 33 ispreferably beveled or conicall'y-shaped' as shown.

Chamber 3-2- and orifice 34 are axially alignedl The end of chamber' '32narrows to orifice 34 as indicated by numeral 36 in a somewhat similarmanner" as was described with respect to Figure 1 except that-noshoulderor ledge isnecessary for-"thespring to press against. The otherend ofchamber 32- oppositeorifice 34 is threadedat 3'!" to" receiveanother threaded member (not shown), such as a conduit'for' supplyingliquid under-pressure; Between threaded section 31 and end section 36,chamber 32 is recessed as'indicated by numeral 38- toreceive-a-fiat orleaf spring-48 which issuspended from the sides of chamber'32; In themodification shown in Figure '3; a single-leaf spring 'is shown;however, a multi-leaf spring, a coil spring, a semi-elliptical spring,arr-elliptical'spring, etca, maybe-used to advantage depending "on suchfactors as the size of the-orifice a-nd the liquidpressure.

As with the nozzl'e-ofFigure 1' of the drawings; the nozzle of Figure "3also includes a valvemember-39 havingavalve head 4| which is hexagonaland a; threaded end 44"; Valve==head4| has a conically-sh'aped' section42which seats onthe'outer edge of orifice *34 to make a knife edgeorline contacttherewith. The threaded end 44- of valve member 39 passesthrough an opening 41 (Figure 4:) of spring 48; The tension-of spring 48is exerted downwardly on valve stem 39'by' conventional hexagonal nuts46 which are screwed on threaded end 445 Two nuts are used so that thenuts will lock and not rotate as a result of the' vibration of valvemember 39. Bylocking nuts 46, the'tension oispring 48 will remainconstant.

Figure 4'is a view in plan of single-leaf spring I 48 0f" Figure 3'.Circular portion 49- restsin-the recess -38ofchamber'3 2-as means forsupporting the spring: V--shaped slots -5| fit into correspondingV-shaped projection (not shown) inchamber' 32 to prevent rotating of thespring during operation-of thenozzle or in adjusting nuts 46;.Middle-section 5-2 of spring 48 is flexible and supplies the tension tourge valvemember 3 9 towards orifice 34;

The nozzle of Figure'3 operates in a similar manneras the nozzle ofFigure 1.

Figure 5 of the drawing'is-an elevational view, partly in cross-section,of another nozzle of different modification than Figures 1 and 3. Thenozzle of Figure 5 is, operated by a conical-helical spring "and is ofrelatively simple construction. This modification comprises a bodyportion 6|, two end sections 63 and 61, spring-l1, and valve member 'H'havinga valve head 12." Body portion 6| comprises an open cylinderforming a chamber 62. Each end of open cylinder 6| is internallythreaded to receive threaded and flanged end sections: 63 and 6'1. Endsection 63 contains an aperture or orifice 6'4-in'open communicationwith chamber' 62. Orifice 64 is of circular'crosssection and is axiallyalined with chamber 62"; Numeral 66 designates a gasket made of suitablegasket material to seal the juncture between bodyportion 6| and endsection'63. End section 61- hasa well or hole 68- to receive tion 67 issealed by gasket 69.

Valve member H extends through orifice 60 and conically-shaped valvehead I2 is seated on the outer edge of cylindrical orifice 64 to form aknife edge contact therebetween. The opposite end of valve member H isthreaded at I3. A nut M is screwed on valve member 7! and supportsfianged washer 16. Washer 76 supports one end of a spring 11 whichsurrounds valve member I I. The other end of spring I1 presses againstthe bottom of recessed end portion 63.

Body portion 6| contains a threaded hole orv aperture I8 which receivesa threaded conduit I9. Conduit 19 transmits liquid under pressure tochamber 62.

The operation of the nozzle of Figure 5 is exactly the same as theoperation of the nozzles of Figures 1 and 3. The tension of spring 1!may be adjusted by adjusting the position of nut 14 on valve member 1 I.Various types of springs other than that shown may be used in themodification of Figure 5 without departing from the scope of thisinvention. Spring 1! may be a cylindricalhelical spring, or other typecompression spring. End portion 6! with well 68 serves as a guide-toassure alignment of valve member II along the axis of chamber 62 andorifice 64 and to minimize transverse vibration of valve member TI.

Figure 8 of the drawings illustrates another modification of thevibrating type nozzle of this invention which is shown in elevation andpartly in cross-section. Body portion i contains a chamber 92 thereinand an aperture 03 in one end thereof. Aperture 93, as shown, has arelatively great longitudinal dimension as compared to the other modelsshown as the result of which it acts as means for holding valve member94 in position in assembling the nozzle. Valve member 94 and acylindrical-helical spring I02 are arranged similar to the arrangementillustrated in Figure 5. One end of spring I02 rests on washer IOI whichis supported by nut 99. The other end of spring I02 presses against theorifice or downstream end of chamber 92. Valve member 9:3 comprises aconically-shaped valve head 95 which seats in the mouth of aperture 93and threaded end 91 upon which nut 99 is screwed. A perforated disk I03is positioned in shoulder or recess HM of chamber 92. Disk I03 containsan opening I06 in the center thereof through which the threaded end 91of valve member 94 passes. Disk I03 serves as a guide for valve member94 to 'assure alignment with the axis of orifice 93 and to minimizetransverse vibration. Plug I0! is screwed into the threaded portion I08of chamber 02 to maintain disk I03 in a fixed and secure position. PlugI0! is threaded at both ends; end I09 receives a conduit (not shown) fortransmitting liquid under pressure to chamber 92. Several plugs likeplug I01 with difierent sized end sections I09 may be interchanged withplug I0? so that body portion 9| can be made to fit any size pipe orconduit.

In the modifications of the nozzle shown in Figures 1, and 6, the springmember is located 8 between the orifice and the guiding member'for thevalve member. In this manner, the two extremes of the valve member aresupported and aligned with the axis of the orifice in order to preventtransverse vibrations or Wobbling. It is important in order to obtainmaximum dispersion and uniform size of the particles at a given pressurethat the valve member vibrate only along the axis of the orifice therebyinsuring uniform and continuous contact between the outer edge of theorifice and the conical section of the valve head when the valve head isseated in the orifice. Moreover, correct alignment of the valve memberduring vibration maintains uniform dispersion of the spray when thevalve head is not seated in the orifice.

Contrary to what might be expected, positioning the spring within theliquid in the chamber of the nozzle does not prevent vibration of thevalve member and apparently does not affect or impair the vibratingphenomenon which causes atomization. The size and mass of the sprishould not be such that it interferes with the flow of liquid throughthe nozzle or causes excessive frictional losses.

The nozzles of this invention have demonstrated exceptionally highefiiciencies as compared to various commercial nozzles on the market.Tests have been made on various commercial nozzles and nozzles of thevibrating type of this invention on brine solutions and oil at pressuresbetween 25 and 6000 pounds per square inch gage. With the bestcommercial nozzle a maximum of about 2 per cent of the brine solu tionremained in suspension at the end of a 5 minute spraying period for apressure of 3000 pounds per square inch gage. With the nozzles of thevibrating type of this invention under similar conditions of operations,30 per cent of the brine solution remained in suspension at the end ofthe spraying period. For a spraying period'oi one minute underotherwise-similar conditions, the best commercia1 nozzle maintained amaximum of 10 'per cent of the brine solution in 5 suspension, and thenozzle of the vibrating type maintained a maximum of about 95 per centof the brine solution in suspension at the end of the spraying period.

A vibrating nozzle similar in construction to that shown in Figure 5 wastested. This nozzle had a 1%,- inch diameter orifice and a valve stem of3% of an inch in diameter passing through the orifice which gave aclearance of ,4, of an inch. The valve head had a 120 degree cone seatedon the edge of the cylindrical orifice. The chamber of the nozzle wasabout X of an inch in diameter and about 3 inches in length. At a liquidpressure of about 3000 to about 5000 pounds per square inch gage, thisnozzle had an optimum capacity of 4 gallons per minute and an efficiencyabove about 80 per cent for spraying both water and oil.

Various alterations and modifications of the nozzles illustrated, suchas the size and shape of the spring and the valve member, may beemployed without departing from the scope of this invention. Varioususes of the nozzle and its principle of operation, such as inhumidification, emulsification, milk spraying, spray drying, fuelinjection, spray painting, powder metallurgy, surface cooling, fireextinguishing, distillation, etc., may become apparent to those skilledin the various fields of application without departing from the scope ofthis invention.

9 izing liquids jhaslits'obvious application .as "in"- tegral parts ofequipment and appliances, such as oil burners, internal .icombustio'nengines, fire extinguishers, etc. In: any .of' these? instances,.lthenozzle portion of the apparatusi'szdefinedaby the various associatedparts necessaryatorproduce the vibrating action, the result :ofWhichatbmizes the liquid.

In using the nozzlesimilar to kthat 'shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2as-a?meansxof injectingfu'el in an oil burner'or furnace, thezshape .ofend section I3 of body portion! leis important. End section l3'insuchinstancesi'saazeo to .l'6ocdegre'e cone so as to prevent.the-accumulationzof :coke deposits around orifice I'd which wouldinterfere with the dispersion of thespray. 'The vibration of valve headzl prevents coke 'accumulations'in the immediate vicinityvof orifice M.

Having describedmy invention, I :claim:

1. An atomizingnozzle comprisingsincombination a body portion having arcliamber'within'said body portion and a stationary" outletcorifieahaving an edgedseatand of'substantiallylsmaller cross-sectional dimensionLthan saidnh'a'mber, a moveable valve member adapted to .freelymove itsnormal span.of:movement1in.a substantially longitudinal direction along.:the axis of said orifice and havinga valve:hea'd terminating adjacentsaid orifice and seatedonitheaedged seat of said outlet orifice, saidvalve head having a maximum diameter not greater than 1% times thediameter of the orifice and an apex angle between about 60 and about 150at its point of seating on said orifice and a 'springpositioned withinsaid chamber urging said valve head towards said outletorifice.

2. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portionhaving-"a chamber within said body portion and a stationary outletorifice having an edged seat, a movable valve member adapted to freelymove in-a'd i rection substantiall-ylperpendicular-to said orifi'ceand'havin'ga valve stem and a valve-head'having a diameter notmorethanabout "g go f arr-inch larg'e'rthan the diameter of said outletorifice and seated'on theedgedseat of said outlet-orifice, and' ahelical spring positioned within said chamber-urging said valve: headtowards said outlet orifice.

3. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination an open cylinder, afirst'plug having a stationary cylindrical orifice therein connected .toone end of said cylinder,;arsecond plug having a well therein connectedto the other end of said cylinder, a movable valve member adapted tofreely vibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to saidorifice and having a valve stem and a conically shaped valve head ofslightly larger diameter than said orifice, said valve head seated insaid cylindrical orifice and said valve stem extending through saidorifice into the well of said second plug forming a continuous annularpassageway between the sides of said orifice and the valve stemcommunicating with the inte-' rior of said cylinder, and a helicalspring positioned within the interior of said cylinder surrounding saidvalve stem and urging said valve head towards said orifice.

4. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portion having alongitudinally grooved chamber within said body portion and a stationarycylindrical outlet orifice having an edged seat, a movable valve memberadapted to freely move in its normal span of movement in a substantiallylongitudinal direction along the axis of said outlet orifice and havinga valve stem amigos 10 and a conically shaped valve head terminatingadjacent said orifice and seated on the :edged seat of said cylindricaloutlet orifice, said valve head having-a maximum diameter not greaterthan 1%; times the diameter of the orifice and an apex angle betweenabout 60 and about 150 at'its point of seating on said orifice saidvalve stem being positioned within said chamber and projecting throughsaid orifice toform a con- .tinuous annular passageway between thesides.of said orifice and the valve stem communicating with said chamber; amovable supporting :member' loosely positioned in the grooves of saidchamber and connected to-said valve stem, and a helical springpositioned in compression within said chamber betweenthe'supporting-member and the orifice surrounding said valve stem andpressing against one end ofsaid chamber and against said supportingmember.- p

5. An atomizingnozzle eomprisingincombination a body-portion-having atchamber containing a circumferentialrecess within said body portionand'a station-arycylindrical .outl et orifice ofsubstantiallysmallercross-sectionaldimension' than said-chamber andhavingan edged -seat, a-mov able \valvemember adapted to freely-movelinits normal-span of movement in asubstantial-ly-lon: gitudinal directionalong the axis of said" outlet orifice-and having a valve stem and a,conically shaped valve head terminating adj acentsaid ori--' ficeand'seatedon said edged seat of :said cylindrical outlet :orifice,said-valve "head havin 5a maximum diameter not greater than about 1- /2times the diameter of the orifice andarr apex anglebet-ween-abou-t-60:andabout'150 at-its point of seating onsaidorifice 1said valve stem being :positioned within said chamber and projectin'gthrough: said orifice toform a' continuous annular-passageway betweenthe sides, of said: orificelandlthe valvestem-communicating withssaidchamber, and a metallic leaf spring restingonthe-recessensaidzchamberurging said valve he'ad towards said outletorifice.

-.6.-=An" atomizingnozzle comprising in combinationa body-portion havinganxi-nternallythreaded chamber =.congta ining a-1'cir cumferentialrecess .iatonesendthereof'withi-n said: body portion andta stationarycylindrical outletorifice; a' rnrova'ble valve: member adapted to freelymove P inriaii direction substantially perpendicular to ssaid outltorifice and: having-a" valve'tstem' and-1a conically shaped valveiheadterminating adja'cent saidnri fice and seated in said cylindrical outletorifice, said valve stem being positioned within said chamber andprojecting through said orifice to form a continuous annular passagewaybetween the sides of said orifice and the valve stem oommunicating withsaid chamber, a helical spring positioned in compression within saidchamber urging said valve head towards said outlet orifice, a perforatedguide member resting on the circumferential recess of said chamber, anda threaded plug fixed into said threaded chamber adapted to hold saidperforated guide member firmly in said recess of said chamber.

7. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portion having achamber within said body portion, a stationary cylindrical outletorifice and a converging passageway in the form of a to cone leadingfrom said chamber to said orifice, said orifice being between about T%and about A; of an inch in length and between about and about /2 of aninch in diameter and smaller in diameter than any preceding passagewayof said body portion, a movable valve 11 member adapted to freelyvibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said orifice andhaving a valve stem and an enlarged'valve head in the form of a conehaving an apex angle between about 60 and about 150 and a diameter notmore than of an inch larger than the diameter of said outlet orificeseated in said cylindrical outlet orifice, said valve stem beingpositioned within said chamber and projecting through-said orificehaving a clearance of at least 0.001 of an inch to form a continuousannular passageway between the sides of said orifice and i the valvestem communicating with said chamber,

and a spring positioned within said chamber urging said valve headtowards said orifice.

8. An atomizing nozzle comprising in combination a body portion having achamber within said body portion, a stationary cylindrical outletorifice and a converging passageway in the form of a cone leading fromsaid chamber to said orifice, said orifice being between about and aboutA of an inch in length and between about A,; and about A of an inch indiameter and smaller in diameter than any preceding passageway of saidbody portion, a moveable valve member adapted to freely move in adirection substantially perpendicular to said orifice and having a valvestem and an enlarged valve head in the form of a cone having an apexangle between about 60 and about 150 and a diameter not more than of aninch larger than the diameter of said outlet orifice seated in saidcylindrical outlet orifice, said valve stem being positioned within saidchamber and projecting through said orifice having a clearance of atleast 0.001 of an inch to form a continuous annular passageway betweenthe sides of said ori- 1 fice andthe valv stem communicating with saidchamber, and a spring positioned within said chamber urging said valvehead towards said orifice.

9. In an atomizing nozzle containing a closed moveable valve memberseated on the edge of an orifice of said nozzle and employing a springpositioned within said nozzle to urge said valve member towards saidorifice, the method for improving the atomization of said nozzle whichcomprises supplying to said nozzle a liquid at a substantially constantpressure between about and about 6000 pounds per square inch gage,vibrating said moveable valve member in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the mouth 12 of said orifice at a frequency of at leastcycles per second by using only -the force supplied by the liquid undervsubstantially constant pressure, and passing liquid through said orificewhereby the liquid is atomized by the vibration of the moveable valvemember.

10. In an atomizing nozzle containing a chamber and a closed moveablevalve member seated on the edge of a cylindrical outlet orifice, saidvalve member being positioned within said chamber and projecting throughsaid'cylindrical outlet orifice to form a continuous annular passagewaybetween the sides of said cylindrical outlet orifice and said valvemember communicating with said chamber, and a spring positioned withinsaid chamber to urge said valve member towards said cylindrical outletorifice, the method for atomizing a liquid by said nozzle whichcomprises supplying to said nozzle a liquid at a substantially constantpressure between about 25 and about 6000 pounds per square inch gage,vibrating said moveable valve member in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the mouth ofsaid orifice at a frequency of at least 60cycles -per second by using only the force supplied by the liquid undersubstantially constant pressure, and passing liquid through said orificewhereby the liquid is atomized by the vibration of the moveable valvemember. I

FRED KURATA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 638,881 Parker Dec. 17, 1901816,810 Molesworth Apr. 3, 1906 943,780 Hughes Dec. 21, 1909 1,112,416Sargent Sept. 29, 1914 1,286,333 Johnson Dec. 3, 1918 1,491,915 McLaine-Apr. 29, 1924 1,609,578 Scott Dec. 7, 1926 1,893,457 Tartrais Jan. 3,1933 2,119,966 Scott June 7, 1938 2,172,556 Edwards Sept. 12, 1939FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 367,014 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1932

